International News

July 2016

Welcome to our Archives page. On this page you will find 3 of our articles broken down into Months and Years.

18ft Skiff UK National Championship at Paignton Sailing Club - Final Day

Everyone is currently searching for Pikachu in the Pokémon Go App - well, she was found on the race course in Paignton this weekend! Illusive for many and fast around the water ensured first place overall for Stewart Mears, George Hand and Tristan Hutt.

After the fleet was held on the beach for a delay to allow the breeze to come in, the skiffs got clean off the start with only Chameleon-i over the line having to return. Union Rose trailed Pica throughout the race to the finish in their bid to get their feet on the second step of the podium.

The second race was a clear start in a very steady but light breeze. McLean's LED came out smelling of roses at the top mark, but ran over the buoy and let the fleet through whilst also fouling Jarrod Simpson. Chameleon-i sailed on to take the race win securing their second place overall, beating Union Rose by only two points. The Rutland Chandlery also picked up two thirds on the final day to bring them back in the bronze medal position.

After a quick pack up, prize giving was held in the club bar. English Braids kindly sponsored prizes for the top three teams and the 'Furthest Travelled' trophy went to Dave Jobson for coming all the way down from Bolton.

The fleet would like to thank Paignton Sailing Club for being so welcoming and the amazing shore crew for helping get the boats in the water. Ian Bullock was a great Race Officer and got the fleet off to a full series of races with some very tricky conditions. The fleet would also like to thank VRsport.tv for putting on some stunning footage of the boats throughout the weekend.

The next event for the skiffs is back to Stone Sailing Club on the 20th and 21st August as the run up to the last event of the season two weeks later in Poole, Sandbanks. All details of the rest of the season and what the class is about can be found at uk18footer.org VRsport.tv were onsite for the full event with daily videos - quayside interviews with National Champions and Tom Hill with a round up of what is so special about sailing an 18 foot skiff.

Everyone is currently searching for Pikachu in the Pokémon Go App - well, she was found on the race course in Paignton this weekend! Illusive for many and fast around the water ensured first pl
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18ft Skiff UK National Championship at Paignton Sailing Club - Day 2

The International 18ft UK Skiffs woke to a lighter breeze on Day Two of their Nationals with determination to get at least three races competed before beer o'clock!

First race was the windiest race of the day with a very shy fleet on the start line. The skiffs enjoyed powered up conditions around the course with Pica once again taking the win, followed by Union Rose and Steve McLean's LED in third.

Shyness had worn off for the start of the second race with a few altercations leaving Mears and McLean to go around each end. The Rutland Chandlery, helmed by Tom Hill with crew Mark Kudlinski and Mark Andres secured a cheeky bullet after showing fantastic downwind tactics and boat speed throughout the race.

The PRO shortened the final race course of Day Two to complete a swift windward/leeward in time for the opening of the Paignton Sailing Club bar. Pica sealed their fifth pole position of the regatta followed by LED and Chameleon-i.

Stewart Mears, Tristan Hutt and George Hand are in a dominating lead overall with the final two spots on the podium still up for grabs with only two points splitting the next three places. Who is going to pick up the dreaded "leather medal".. So as the pundits would say "All to play for on the final day!" VRsport.tv are onsite for the full event with daily videos - quayside interviews with the LED team and Nick Ripley - Paignton SC Commodore gives an update on the success of the club on Day Two.

Cheeky bullet for Rutland Chandlery and Pica continues to dominate overall
The International 18ft UK Skiffs woke to a lighter breeze on Day Two of their Nationals with determination to get at
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18ft Skiff UK National Championship at Paignton Sailing Club - Day 1

Stunning conditions welcomed the nine boat fleet at Paignton on Day One of the 18ft Skiff UK National Championship 2016. As a steady 10-12 knot gradient wind established, the English Riviera was on top form with temperatures hitting the mid 20's and four back to back races.

With several new boats and returning teams it was always going to be interesting to see who would find form early. Nick Murray's English Rose team, helmed by Jarrod Simpson and Matt Barker in the front, weathered the shifty conditions to find their way to an unassailable lead in Race One holding off Graham Bridle in Chameleon finishing a strong second with a late charge from Stewart Mears on Pica in third.

Jarrod, Nick and Matt again showed good pace at the start of Race Two leading round the windward mark followed by Pica and Steve McLean on LED. Smart downwind tactics saw Pica pick up more pressure and take the lead to the end of the race with LED and English Rose close behind.

The third race saw a drop in pressure and teams working hard to keep everyone on the wire, Mears held a strong lead throughout, however, places were hotly contested for 2nd and 3rd with Chameleon just gaining the advantage over English Rose.

Final race of the day was set off in a forever decreasing breeze. The last leg proved tricky with two boats being left in a hole of no breeze at the bottom mark, finishing much later than the top boats.

The skiffs headed back in with what was left of the breeze and were welcomed into Paignton Sailing Club for a restock of pasta and beer after a long days racing. Forecast for Day Two is even lighter but the PRO is hopeful to get racing off at 1pm. VRsport.tv are onsite for the full event with daily videos - quayside interviews with the teams from Pica and Chameleon on Day One.

Stunning conditions welcomed the nine boat fleet at Paignton on Day One of the 18ft Skiff UK National Championship 2016. As a steady 10-12 knot gradient wind established, the English Riviera was on to...
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